Wexford's first ever successful murder case comes back to haunt him when a vicar starts to rake up the past. Was the man hanged on Wexford's evidence actually innocent?

Could Wexford have helped convict an innocent man who was then hanged? The daughter refuses to marry unless her father is cleared. Her fiance and his father pursue the truth though Wexford refuses to help.

Wexford is somewhat shaken by discoveries in the old murder case but remains convinced he got the right man. The final solution exposes the secret kept by the convicted murderer's widow.

Wexford collapses from overwork so is put on a month's leave. Instead of resting though, he decides to go and visit Mike, who is seconded to London. Although he should be resting, Wexford's dreams have drawn him towards Mike's case of a young murdered girl left lying in a vault, and a strong connection to the baby adoption business.

Inspector Wexford is confronted with a murder in a vegetarian family and wonders how many kinds of mushrooms there are.

When Wexford and Burden go on a holiday to France together with their wives, they meet an alluring English couple. Reg becomes transfixed by the wife, and is shocked when he gets back home to hear she has been kidnapped.